Brad Stevens remains quiet amid UCLA speculation

Mar. 29, 2013
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Butler Bulldogs head coach Brad Stevens reacts in the first half against the Marquette Golden Eagles during the third round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Rupp Arena. / Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports

by David Woods, USA TODAY Sports

by David Woods, USA TODAY Sports

When approached at his Hinkle Fieldhouse office, Stevens smiled and mouthed the words "no comment." He said there was no benefit to talking about his "personal life." He spent at least part of the day interviewing outgoing seniors.

Butler president James Danko said Thursday he hopes Stevens stays but gave no other information.

Butler athletic director Barry Collier talked to a reporter about the school's upcoming move to the Big East Conference but would not address Stevens' job status.

VCU coach Skaka Smart took himself out of the UCLA discussion by taking a long-term contract extension Wednesday. As part of the agreement, he did not interview with UCLA. However, it was not clear that Smart was among UCLA's top candidates.

There has also been speculation that Minnesota has Stevens on its list of candidates for a new head coach. But considering he didn't take the Illinois job when it was open last year, it seems unlikely he would be interested in Minnesota.

In New York earlier this month for the announcement Butler would be joining the Big East, president James Danko acknowledged his concern about being able to keep Stevens.

"Certainly Brad is a hot commodity," Danko told USA TODAY Sports then. "We recognize that, but he's an individual with strong values, strong loyalty, family values, connections to Indiana, so there's a lot to compel Brad to stay where he's at. But at the same time, he's young and successful and so he'll always have opportunities. Our hope is that Butler is always able to compete when other suitors come. And they will."

Asked if joining the Big East put him more at ease since it would not be as if Stevens could jump to a significantly better conference now, Danko replied, ""I'm afraid I'm always on the alert." Then he repeated, "I'm afraid I'm always on the alert."

UCLA is among the nation's most prestigious jobs, and Los Angeles media have analyzed whether Stevens would be interested.

"Butler will join the Big East Conference next year â?? the good Big East, with all the basketball powers," UCLA beat reporter Chris Foster wrote in the Los Angeles Times. "That puts Stevens in a power conference, so who needs the Pac 12?

"And yet ...

"Butler will join the Big East Conference next season. The school's basketball budget, reportedly $3.9 million, would be the lowest in the conference, so you're a real boy now Pinocchio, deal with it."

Ryan Kartje wrote in an Orange County Register blog:

"But would Stevens, who is a Midwesterner through and through, fit in Hollywood? Is he the right choice to recruit Los Angeles and return UCLA to the elite? And would he even accept an offer, if one was made?"

The fact that John Wooden, a native Hoosier, built a dynasty at UCLA â?? 10 national championships between 1964 and 1975 -- is part of what might lure Stevens to Westwood. Stevens has sometimes been compared to Wooden because they share Indiana roots, a Christian faith and a restrained demeanor. (That is, except for this animated moment in Butler's NCAA tournament loss to Marquette that went viral online.)

Stevens was born in Greenville, S.C., but has lived in Indiana since he was a child. He played basketball at Zionsville High School and at DePauw University. He has a 166-49 record at Butler, winning more games in his first six years as a head coach than anyone in NCAA Division I history.

Stevens' annual income is $1.2 million, and in 2010 he was awarded a contract extension through 2021-22. UCLA would have to pay substantially more than that just for the difference in cost of living.

The UCLA job became available Monday when the school fired Ben Howland. He led the Bruins to three Final Fours in 10 seasons and won the 2013 Pac-12 regular-season championship. UCLA lost its first game of the NCAA tournament to Minnesota, which also fired its coach, Tubby Smith.

Howland, who had base pay of $2.3 million, had a contract through 2017. His buyout was $3.2 million.